Going to great lengths for a good cause: Inspiring images show woman cutting off 14 inches of hair for others with cancer

A woman's experience of cutting off 14 inches of her hair to donate to women fighting cancer has been documented in an inspiring sequence of photos.

In images that were posted on Pantene's Facebook page, Andrea - whose Polynesian mother was diagnosed with breast cancer ten years ago - gets emotional as her long locks are chopped off to be used in wigs for women who have lost their own hair due to chemotherapy.

'Knowing that I can donate my hair to a cancer patient that may lose her hair and feel like her identity is taken away from her, it makes it really easy for me to want to do this,' she explains in a video.

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Heart-warming haircut: Andrea (pictured) decided to cut her hair and donate it to women fighting cancer in honor of her mother, a ten-year breast cancer survivor

In the video, both Andrea and her mother have tears in their eyes as the hair stylist prepares to chop off her locks - a significant event, especially in relation to their culture.

'My mom has been a Polynesian dancer since she was a teenager, and I've been Polynesian dancing since [I was] in her belly!' she explained.

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'We all have long hair, it's a big part of when we dance. Have you ever been to a luau and seen Polynesian dancers in grass skirts with short hair? No!' she jokes.

Still, despite the cultural significance - or perhaps because of it - Andrea couldn't be more enthusiastic to go through with the haircut.

Making the cut: A hair stylist measured out 14 inches of Andrea's brunette locks, which will be sent to Pantene's campaign Beautiful Lengths, to be turned into a wig

Easy decision: 'Hair makes you who you are, it makes you feel beautiful,' she says. 'For someone not to have that anymore and to have that identity taken away from you. . . I just thought, I'm going to donate it'

'Hair makes you who you are, it makes
you feel beautiful,' she says. 'For someone not to have that anymore and
to have that identity taken away from you. . . I just thought, I'm
going to donate it.'

'Having long hair is empowering, but cutting it empowers me in another way'

Andrea's hair will be sent to Beautiful Lengths, Pantene's national campaign that provides real wigs for women fighting cancer.

While she said she was 'nervous' before the big cut, Andrea, a mother-of-one, also knows it is the right thing for her to do.

'Having long hair, it does make you feel like your own warrior,' she said. 'It's strong and it's empowering. [But] cutting it empowers me in another way.'

Family love: In the video of the event, Andrea and her mother share an emotional embrace after her locks have been chopped off. 'I am so proud of her,' says her mother

Strength: 'Having long hair, it does make you feel like your own warrior,' said Andrea. 'It's strong and it's empowering. [But] cutting it empowers me in another way'

Cultural sacrifice: The haircut is particularly significant for Andrea (right) and her mother (left), since they are both Polynesian dancers, who traditionally have long, flowing locks

And when the hair stylist comments that her newly-shorn hair looks 'fabulous', Andrea states proudly: 'I'm ready to make someone else look fabulous too.'

For Andrea's mother, the sentiment is not lost on her. 'I am so proud of her,' she says in the video, visibly moved. 'It is kind of a sign of hope for both of us and really for anybody else, and that's what means the most to us,' she said.

'That means a lot to me,' she added, turning to her daughter with a smile.

WATCH: Beautiful Lengths hair donation with Andrea

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Going to great lengths for a good cause: Inspiring images show woman cutting off 14 inches of hair for others with cancer